Sami Zayn recently revisited his high-stakes championship match against Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber 2023, addressing the widespread fan sentiment that he should have captured the title in his hometown of Montreal. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the current Undisputed WWE Champion offered a nuanced perspective on the controversial finish.
On the Montreal Decision
“At the time, I thought there was a case to be made for it, but going back to the domino effect thing, I don’t know. I really don’t know,” Zayn admitted. “I don’t think it’s ludicrous to say I should have. If you were watching at that time, I think anybody could have made that argument. But it was just again timing, and Cody [Rhodes] was also red hot at that time, and they were building to something. Then it leads to Cody the next year, and then it’s more gratifying. Whatever it is, just yeah, I don’t know. Could, should, would—would it have worked? I think so. But who’s to say?”
On Requesting the First Entrance Against John Cena
Zayn also clarified a moment from his match against John Cena during the legend’s retirement tour, where he asked to be introduced first—a decision that drew heavy boos from the Chicago crowd. “Yeah, I think that got misinterpreted slightly in the phrasing. Chicago did not like it. That was the first night I got really booed, like significantly booed before I started tipping the scales a little bit,” he explained. “I was doing it as a thing of like, no, I know exactly what you said. I know I’m the champion, but out of respect, please introduce him last. Then the way [ring announcer] Mark [Henry] said it, I’m not sure they understood the meaning behind it, so they just booed anyway. But it’s all good. I don’t want to be announced after, nothing should go after him at that point. You know what I mean? Yeah, John’s the man too.”
